按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
child's expression lingering still。 See！ In the eyes； now turned
inquiringly on Meg； there shone the very look that scanned those
features when he brought her home！
Then what was this； beside him！
Looking with awe into its face； he saw a something reigning there：
a lofty something； undefined and indistinct； which made it hardly
more than a remembrance of that child … as yonder figure might be …
yet it was the same： the same： and wore the dress。
Hark。 They were speaking！
'Meg；' said Lilian； hesitating。 'How often you raise your head
from your work to look at me！'
'Are my looks so altered； that they frighten you？' asked Meg。
'Nay； dear！ But you smile at that； yourself！ Why not smile； when
you look at me； Meg？'
'I do so。 Do I not？' she answered： smiling on her。
'Now you do；' said Lilian； 'but not usually。 When you think I'm
busy； and don't see you； you look so anxious and so doubtful； that
I hardly like to raise my eyes。 There is little cause for smiling
in this hard and toilsome life； but you were once so cheerful。'
'Am I not now！' cried Meg； speaking in a tone of strange alarm； and
rising to embrace her。 'Do I make our weary life more weary to
you； Lilian！'
'You have been the only thing that made it life；' said Lilian；
fervently kissing her； 'sometimes the only thing that made me care
to live so； Meg。 Such work； such work！ So many hours； so many
days； so many long； long nights of hopeless； cheerless； never…
ending work … not to heap up riches； not to live grandly or gaily；
not to live upon enough； however coarse； but to earn bare bread； to
scrape together just enough to toil upon； and want upon； and keep
alive in us the consciousness of our hard fate！ Oh Meg； Meg！' she
raised her voice and twined her arms about her as she spoke； like
one in pain。 'How can the cruel world go round； and bear to look
upon such lives！'
'Lilly！' said Meg； soothing her； and putting back her hair from her
wet face。 'Why； Lilly！ You！ So pretty and so young！'
'Oh Meg！' she interrupted； holding her at arm's…length； and looking
in her face imploringly。 'The worst of all； the worst of all！
Strike me old； Meg！ Wither me； and shrivel me； and free me from
the dreadful thoughts that tempt me in my youth！'
Trotty turned to look upon his guide。 But the Spirit of the child
had taken flight。 Was gone。
Neither did he himself remain in the same place； for； Sir Joseph
Bowley； Friend and Father of the Poor； held a great festivity at
Bowley Hall； in honour of the natal day of Lady Bowley。 And as
Lady Bowley had been born on New Year's Day （which the local
newspapers considered an especial pointing of the finger of
Providence to number One； as Lady Bowley's destined figure in
Creation）； it was on a New Year's Day that this festivity took
place。
Bowley Hall was full of visitors。 The red…faced gentleman was
there； Mr。 Filer was there； the great Alderman Cute was there …
Alderman Cute had a sympathetic feeling with great people； and had
considerably improved his acquaintance with Sir Joseph Bowley on
the strength of his attentive letter： indeed had become quite a
friend of the family since then … and many guests were there。
Trotty's ghost was there； wandering about； poor phantom； drearily；
and looking for its guide。
There was to be a great dinner in the Great Hall。 At which Sir
Joseph Bowley； in his celebrated character of Friend and Father of
the Poor； was to make his great speech。 Certain plum…puddings were
to be eaten by his Friends and Children in another Hall first； and；
at a given signal； Friends and Children flocking in among their
Friends and Fathers； were to form a family assemblage； with not one
manly eye therein unmoistened by emotion。
But； there was more than this to happen。 Even more than this。 Sir
Joseph Bowley； Baronet and Member of Parliament； was to play a
match at skittles … real skittles … with his tenants！
'Which quite reminds me；' said Alderman Cute； 'of the days of old
King Hal； stout King Hal； bluff King Hal。 Ah！ Fine character！'
'Very；' said Mr。 Filer； dryly。 'For marrying women and murdering
'em。 Considerably more than the average number of wives by the
bye。'
'You'll marry the beautiful ladies； and not murder 'em； eh？' said
Alderman Cute to the heir of Bowley； aged twelve。 'Sweet boy！ We
shall have this little gentleman in Parliament now；' said the
Alderman； holding him by the shoulders； and looking as reflective
as he could； 'before we know where we are。 We shall hear of his
successes at the poll； his speeches in the House； his overtures
from Governments； his brilliant achievements of all kinds； ah！ we
shall make our little orations about him in the Common Council；
I'll be bound； before we have time to look about us！'
'Oh； the difference of shoes and stockings！' Trotty thought。 But
his heart yearned towards the child； for the love of those same
shoeless and stockingless boys； predestined （by the Alderman） to
turn out bad； who might have been the children of poor Meg。
'Richard；' moaned Trotty； roaming among the company； to and fro；
'where is he？ I can't find Richard！ Where is Richard？' Not
likely to be there； if still alive！ But Trotty's grief and
solitude confused him； and he still went wandering among the
gallant company； looking for his guide； and saying； 'Where is
Richard？ Show me Richard！'
He was wandering thus； when he encountered Mr。 Fish； the
confidential Secretary： in great agitation。
'Bless my heart and soul！' cried Mr。 Fish。 'Where's Alderman Cute？
Has anybody seen the Alderman？'
Seen the Alderman？ Oh dear！ Who could ever help seeing the
Alderman？ He was so considerate； so affable； he bore so much in
mind the natural desires of folks to see him； that if he had a
fault； it was the being constantly On View。 And wherever the great
people were； there； to be sure； attracted by the kindred sympathy
between great souls； was Cute。
Several voices cried that he was in the circle round Sir Joseph。
Mr。 Fish made way there； found him； and took him secretly into a
window near at hand。 Trotty joined them。 Not of his own accord。
He felt that his steps were led in that direction。
'My dear Alderman Cute；' said Mr。 Fish。 'A little more this way。
The most dreadful circumstance has occurred。 I have this moment
received the intelligence。 I think it will be best not to acquaint
Sir Joseph with it till the day is over。 You understand Sir
Joseph； and will give me your opinion。 The most frightful and
deplorable event！'
'Fish！' returned the Alderman。 'Fish！ My good fellow； what is the
matter？ Nothing revolutionary； I hope！ No … no attempted
interference with the magistrates？'
'Deedles； the banker；' gasped the Secretary。 'Deedles Brothers …
who was to have been here to…day … high in office in the
Goldsmiths' Company … '
'Not stopped！' exclaimed the Alderman； 'It can't be！'
'Shot himself。'
'Good God！'
'Put a double…barrelled pistol to his mouth； in his own counting
house；' said Mr。 Fish； 'and blew his brains out。 No motive。
Princ